In the golden autumn of September, one of the important annual events of the Ethereum ecosystem in Greater China, ETHShanghai, will initiate an all-day clash of ideas in Shanghai.
On September 22, ETHShanghai 2026 will focus on the core theme of "The Renaissance of Ethereum." From reflecting on Ethereum's golden age to facing cyclical lows and real challenges; from discussing the collision and integration of AI × Web3 to reevaluating the development direction of the next phase, this conference aims to navigate through the chaotic market narratives and rediscover the value coordinates of Ethereum.
For today’s Ethereum, what it is experiencing may be more than just a round of technical upgrades or ecological expansions. It is readdressing a larger question: In an era where AI accelerates the reshaping of the internet, what kind of infrastructure can Ethereum truly become?
It is not just a blockchain or a financial network; it could become a more open, trustworthy, and verifiable digital infrastructure that carries the values, collaboration, and innovation of the next generation of the internet.
Why now?
The Ethereum of 2026 is undergoing a profound identity reshaping.
Technically, it needs to solve how L1 and L2 can synergize for scaling; in governance, it needs to readdress who will define the future of Ethereum; economically, it needs to resolve how ecological growth can be transformed into the value of ETH; narratively, it is also transitioning from a smart contract public chain to an infrastructure that supports the global on-chain economy.
But when we temporarily shift our focus away from prices and market sentiment, a more pressing question emerges: What exactly did Ethereum originally seek to solve?
Since the white paper era, what Ethereum has carried has always been more than just a world computer, a public chain, or a type of technological architecture; it is also a value system: technological self-sovereignty, anti-censorship, public goods, and "not allowing any single force to achieve total victory in cyberspace."
Today, as computing power, data, and models become increasingly concentrated among a few giants, and as AI starts to redefine information, productivity, and even the relationship between humans and machines, those propositions that once belonged to the crypto world are becoming urgent again.
This is also why ETHShanghai 2026 hopes to revisit Ethereum's value.
Four major themes to rediscover Ethereum: Reclaiming our original intention, confronting loss, responding to AI, exploring the future
This ETHShanghai will unfold around four themes, attempting to re-examine the present from the past and find a path towards the future.
The core values represented by CROPS will run throughout the day: anti-censorship, anti-capture, open-source, privacy, and security. These are not only the foundational beliefs that Ethereum has upheld along its journey but may also be key clues to understanding where the next phase of Ethereum is truly heading.
The first theme is "Where do we come from?"
From the white paper, crowdfunding, and mainnet launch to The DAO, ICO, DeFi Summer, and the market peak in 2021, Ethereum has experienced a golden age filled with idealism and creativity.
Early developers, DeFi builders, and industry OGs will reflect on that history: Why did we enter this industry back then? What did we once believe in? More importantly, as we stand today, how much of what we originally believed remains?
Why did we enter this industry back then? What did we once believe in? As we stand today, how much of what we originally believed remains?
This is not just a retrospective on crypto history; it is also a reaffirmation of Ethereum's original intention: After the industry has gone through clamor, prosperity, and cycles, do we still remember what we originally sought to change?
The second theme is "What are we losing?"
If the first theme looks back, the second theme is an introspective confrontation with reality.
Looking inward, how has idealism gradually faded under the influence of meme coins, speculation, VC coins, and attention economy? Why have those discussions of decentralization, anti-censorship, and personal sovereignty ultimately devolved into another round of financial speculation?
Looking outward, AI is siphoning global talent, capital, and computing power while massively scraping, training, and reconstructing data generated by humans. Privacy, data sovereignty, and personal control are becoming new propositions that cannot be ignored in the age of AI.
Dare we ask: In this round of cycle, what the crypto industry has truly lost is the market or the original intention?
The third theme is "AI × Web3."
This is a direct response to the ongoing AI wave.
As AI moves from "downloading the internet" to modeling the physical world and transitioning from chat windows into the real world, computing power, models, and data are increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few companies. If centralized AI is constructing an increasingly powerful black box, can Web3 make this black box verifiable, ownable, and accountable?
This may also be an opportunity in the AI era to reevaluate the value of Web3, not simply by connecting blockchains to AI, but by rethinking how individuals can retain their data, identity, and choices in a digital world that is constantly expanding with intelligent agents.
From "Who owns these models," to "How does AI interact with the on-chain world once it enters the physical world?" and to Ethereum's core values of "digital refuge & personal sovereignty," two roundtable discussions will delve into topics such as open-source, decentralized computing power, data sovereignty, verifiability, agents, self-sovereign identity, and privacy.
The fourth theme is "Where are we heading?"
When we reaffirm our original intention and confront what is being lost, we must address the next question: Who should define the future, and who will build it?
Predictive markets, stablecoins, US stocks on-chain, the space economy, and Network State… these topics, whether currently happening or still lingering in the realm of imagination, will be placed on the same future map.
At the conference, the discussion will not just focus on "What is the next hot topic," but will strive to ask a larger question: The kind of future we can imagine today determines the kind of world we can build tomorrow.
This is not just a conference
ETHShanghai 2026 is not just a technical event about AI and crypto applications; it is also a renewed inquiry into the values and original intention of Ethereum.
Today's Ethereum is in a period that belongs to its own "Odyssey": having passed through the golden age, it has also experienced lows and doubts; facing the new challenges brought by AI, capital, and centralized forces, it is again searching for the place of decentralization, anti-censorship, openness, and personal sovereignty in the next generation of the internet.
The true Odyssey is never merely about arriving at a destination, but about continuously affirming throughout the long journey: where we came from and why we continue to move forward.
This year, we still leave the stage for the true builders.
If you care about:
· The truly important technological and ecological direction for the next phase of Ethereum
· The possibilities and boundaries of decentralized infrastructure in the era of AI
· How the crypto world can uphold its initial ideals amid a new wave of technological change
See you in Shanghai on September 22. Returning to Ethereum's starting point and reimagining its future from here.
How to participate
Luma: https://luma.com/365uky1b
Official website: https://ethshanghai.org/
X (Twitter): x.com/EthereumSH
Global sponsors are being recruited
A truly vibrant event for the Ethereum ecosystem relies on the active participation of every builder, partner, and supporter.
ETHShanghai 2026 is now officially open for global sponsorships. The conference has established three sponsorship levels: diamond, platinum, and gold, providing diverse on-site exposure, brand display, and ecological connection opportunities for ecological projects, institutions, and brands.
We sincerely invite global ecological partners to join us in connecting developers, builders, investors, and industry leaders, gathering innovative forces from China and the Asia-Pacific region, and promoting the sustainable development of Web3 and the Ethereum ecosystem.
About the organizers
ETHPanda
ETHPanda is an Ethereum community composed of Mandarin-speaking builders, dedicated to connecting Mandarin-speaking builders with the international Ethereum ecosystem through education, public services, events, and technological innovations, collectively promoting the continuous development and innovation of Ethereum.
PANews
PANews is a leading think tank information platform in the blockchain Web3.0 field, providing readers with cutting-edge information and research reports from an international perspective.
The Excited Few
The Excited Few is a freelance writer alliance that inherits the tradition of crypto-punk, dedicated to researching the threats of centralized AI and believing that in cyberspace, no single force should have the power to define the entire truth.
Special support
GCC
GCC is a funding organization supporting Mandarin digital public goods and open-source ecosystems, mainly focusing on projects related to the Ethereum ecosystem, developer education, open-source tools, and infrastructure.
Wanchain Blockchain Lab
Wanchain Blockchain Lab was established in 2015 by Wanxiang Group, gathering experts in the field to conduct research and discussions on technology development, business applications, and industry strategies, providing guidance for entrepreneurs and references for industry development and policy formulation, promoting the progress and development of blockchain technology for social and economic advancement.
LXDAO
LXDAO is a research-oriented decentralized DAO focused on sustainably supporting Web3 public goods and open-source projects.
Web3Buidler.Tech
Web3Buidler.Tech is a technical co-building community focused on innovative integration of Web3 and AI.
ETH HK Hub
Initiated by the Ethereum Foundation and co-operated by SNZ and ETHTAO, ETH HK Hub is Asia's first physical Ethereum community center and a global communication and innovation hub that connects East and West, Web2 and Web3, dedicated to bringing together developers, entrepreneurs, investors, community members, and Web3 builders, creating an open space for collaboration, community exchange, and project co-construction.
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